Director, Production Planning

Position Summary

The Director, Production Planning is responsible for leading and optimizing the production machining planning process, ensuring efficient scheduling, resource allocation and alignment with business objectives. This role collaborates with various departments, develops and implements demand planning systems and processes, and analyzes data to improve forecast accuracy and reduce inventory costs.

Job Duties And Responsibilities

• Oversee the entire production/machining planning process, including data collection, analysis, forecasting, resource allocation, workflow optimization and reporting.

• Analyze historical output data and equipment capacity to develop and maintain accurate production schedules.

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams such as Manufacturing, Engineering, Quality and Supply Chain to gather insights, align plans, and communicate schedules.

• Develop and implement inventory and production strategies that optimize material flow, reduce costs and meet customer delivery requirements.

• Collaborate with executive leadership to define and execute long-term manufacturing/machining goals and strategies.

• Build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, clients, and industry partners.

• Set clear brand goals and KPIs and track progress through performance metrics and regular reporting.

• Monitor industry trends and competitive landscape to anticipate and address potential challenges and opportunities in machining production.

• Report on production performance, including output, efficiency, downtime and quality metrics.

• Identify and pursue new process improvement opportunities to drive operational efficiency and expand manufacturing capabilities.

• Conduct market research and competitive analysis to inform strategic decision-making and identify emerging trends.

• Collaborate on the creation and execution of manufacturing initiatives, including process improvements, automation, and lean projects.

• Lead internal teams in the execution of production initiatives and ensure alignment with overall company goals.

• Ensure that the appropriate team structure and members are in place for the team to achieve its goals and objectives, interviewing and selecting the most highly skilled candidate(s) for the team.

• Coach and mentor team talent, setting clear priorities and success metrics.

• Develop leadership and influence skills for indirect management.

• Provide regular and structured feedback, ensuring high performance.

• Create an environment of collaboration and open communication.

• Actively measure and enhance employee engagement by addressing team members' concerns and providing opportunities for feedback.

• Make strategic, data-driven decisions that balance short-term needs with long-term objectives.

• Ensure decisions align with company values and goals.

• Lead the team in identifying and solving complex problems, breaking down challenges into manageable tasks, provide guidance on how to tackle them, and in adopting processes for continuous improvements.

• Communicate feedback from senior leadership to the team, ensuring it is actionable.

• Identify, assess, and mitigate potential risks to the demand plan, such as supply chain disruptions or changes in customer demand.

• Travel as required.

• Participate on problem solving teams for driving to root cause of internal and external quality failures, particularly related to prevention of customer escapes.

• May lead and actively volunteer for Continuous Improvement projects/tasks.

• Participate in and sustain 5S Standards.

Education/Experience & Skills

• Bachelor’s degree required, 10+ years of experience in production planning and manufacturing, and at least 5 years of experience leading people.
• Armorer experience preferred.
• Experience in negotiation, performance metrics, and tracking KPI’s.
• History of having successfully managed and led teams.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Familiarity with brand management and marketing strategies.
• Ability to analyze processes and information, identify problems and trends, and develop effective solutions and strategies.
• Proficient in conducting market research and competitive analysis.
• Time and project management skills.
• Expert presentation skills and the ability to speak in public.
• Strong knowledge of Microsoft Office applications and the ability to accurately perform tasks in Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Able to operate independently at a high level and complete tasks in a timely manner.